New OIG Guidance Publishes on Permissive Exclusions from Federal Health Care Program Participation May Interest Mental Health Care Professionals
By Miles Indest, J.D./M.B.A candidate at Tulane University: Law Clerk, The Health Law Firm
On April 20, 2016, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) released updated non-binding criteria that disclosed when a company or individual can be barred from participating in Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal health care programs.
The OIG has permissive authority to exclude a person or company from participation in federal health care programs for engaging in certain prohibited conduct, such as false claims or kickbacks. The OIG has consistently asserted that there is a presumption in favor of exclusion. The new guidance updates the OIG’s position by stating that its presumption in favor of exclusion is rebuttable in certain situations. Importantly, […]